I was also the woman who had learned to read every page.

The man in the gray suit began walking toward us.

And for the first time since Marcus had zipped his suitcase, I knew what would happen next.

PART 2 — The Brochure in His Briefcase

The glossy brochure sat on our kitchen counter for three days before I believed the trip was real.

Marcus picked it up whenever he passed.

He reread the letter that came with it and shook his head as though the words might disappear if he stopped checking them.

He said he had won through a sales contest at work.